B2 – Upper Intermediate
China has decided to ban hidden door handles after several deadly accidents. In some crashes, passengers and rescuers had difficulty opening car doors. These handles are common in modern electric cars because of their sleek design and aerodynamic benefits. The decision highlights growing concerns about balancing modern design with passenger safety and may influence safety standards in other countries.
Watch the video to learn more and be able to answer the questions below.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does the word “deem” mean? They simply deem these concealed door handles to be too unsafe. Use the word in a sentence.
- What is a “high-profile case“? There are a number of high-profile cases where an electric vehicle crashed in which the doors weren’t able to open because of these concealed doors. Make one sentence using the word.
- What does the idiom “to drive someone nuts” mean? Trying to figure out how to open the hidden door handles in a Tesla for the first time can really drive someone nuts. Use the idiom in your sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- Do you think banning hidden car door handles is the right decision to improve passenger safety? Why or why not?
- In your opinion, should car design focus more on safety than appearance and modern features?
- How can car manufacturers balance innovative design with safety requirements?
- Do you think other countries should follow China’s decision to ban hidden car door handles? Why or why not?
- Should car companies be punished if a design feature causes accidents or injuries?
- Can too many automatic features make drivers less careful?
4 replies on “China Bans Hidden Car Door Handles”
1. What does the word “deem” mean? They simply deem these concealed door handles to be too unsafe. Use the word in a sentence.
DEEM: to consider in a specific way.
Exampe: After the attorney’s defence, the judge deemed the accused to be guilty.
2. What is a “high-profile case“? There are a number of high-profile cases where an electric vehicle crashed in which the doors weren’t able to open because of these concealed doors. Make one sentence using the word.
HIGH-PROFILE CASE: trials that became famous because of its important repercurssions or famous-related subjects.
Example: The high-profile cases related with Donald Trump will be commenced on August 2027.
3. What does the idiom “to drive someone nuts” mean? Trying to figure out how to open the hidden door handles in a Tesla for the first time can really drive someone nuts. Use the idiom in your sentence.
DRIVE SOMEONE NUTS: idiom used when something usually annoys subjects, because of its difficulty or tricky content.
Example: each time I play chess with my brother it drives me nuts. He is exaggeratedly skilled!
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Do you think banning hidden car door handles is the right decision to improve passenger safety? Why or why not?
In case that it can be demonstrated the deaths of subjects due to the door handles designed I totally agree with China’s decision. Partially everyone wants to show its best appearance. As a result, I understand the modern and visually attractive designs of actual cars. Nevertheless, we do not have to forget the core of this technology: move us from one point to the other in the safest way possible. That is why I support any measure that implies or focuses on road safety.
2. In your opinion, should car design focus more on safety than appearance and modern features?
As I see it, and as I said above, we must remember the main goal of technology: make the human’s life easier rather than dangerous. At the moment in which aspects as appearance and modern features overcome safety, problems will arise.
However, I would like to stand out that several times cars or technology are safe until the human makes it dangerous. Let me explain it, there are recurring situations in which subjects tend to put others life in danger due to misuse of technology. For instance, when drunk individuals drive, when people writes messages in the mobile phone during driving, among others.
3. How can car manufacturers balance innovative design with safety requirements?
By performing quality tests during the car’s design. As far as I know, each product must pass several quality tests before being able to be designed. During this tests, accident situations should be recreated in order to see if innovative design aspects do not disturb safety requirements.
4. Do you think other countries should follow China’s decision to ban hidden car door handles? Why or why not?
In case that it is demonstrated the relation between modern door handles and deaths in cars accidents, I deem that all the other countries should follow China’s statement. Simply because safety should go first, before all the visual aspects that a car can provide us.
5. Should car companies be punished if a design feature causes accidents or injuries?
At least they should compensate the families of the victims. Unfortunately, any life does not have a monetary value; it is far more than money. Thus, probably car companies should be punished in case that any type of car design causes or promotes accidents or injuries. Or at least, they should explain during the process of selling the implications of this car decision.
6. Can too many automatic features make drivers less careful?
Yes. I totally agree with this statement sentence since, in certain situations, subjects rely too much on technology. Although it is true that certain automatic features make life easier and safer, they can also distract the driver, which is the most dangerous issue during driving.
You did a wonderful job! You expressed your thoughts well. Your ideas are interesting and clear.
Take a look at how these responses can be revised:
Stay the course to see more progress in your writing.
Vocabulary Questions:
1. Deem means believe something to be a certain way.
A sentence could be “I deem that cars whit a mecanical door handle are better”
2. A high-profile case is a situation that receives a lot of importance.
A sentence could be “The accident became a high-profile case because many TV channels talks about it”
3. To drive someone nuts means to make someone very annoyed.
A sentence could be “My slow computer drives me nuts when I have to work quickly.”
Discussion Questions:
1. I think it is a good decision, but it doesn’t guarantee you will be able to open the door when helping in a car accident. Maybe car manufacturers should look for better alternatives to improve this problem.
2. In my opinion, car design has to focus more on safety than appearance and modern features. At the end of the day, this is the most important thing.
3. Car manufacturers can balance innovative design with safety requirements by making sure that modern features are also safe to use.
4. Yes, I think this type of car accident can occur all around the world, so all countries should follow China’s decision.
5. No, all the cars have a “safety test”, and when you buy a car you may check the safty parametres of the vehicle and decide wheter if it is safe or not.
6. Yes, because it gives you a false sense of security and you pay less attention to the road.
Your sentences already communicate clear ideas, and most of the corrections are about sounding more natural or polished — not about basic understanding. That’s a strong sign that your English is improving.
Be mindful with grammar and spelling in this sentence:
You’re doing well in expressing opinions clearly.